*** MINIMUM WAGE VOTE IS TODAY! *** PLEASE CALL YOUR REP @ 1-800-459-1887 ***

[Sapphire Blue]

*** Please call your Rep @ 1-800-459-1887 in support of HR 2 - the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. ***

*** If you have already called & forwarded this info, THANK YOU! :hug: ***

*** Please K&R this thread through the morning to help generate as many calls as possible! ***



Email from the Coalition on Human Needs (http://www.chn.org)...

MAKE THAT CALL FOR THE MINIMUM WAGE!

There's still time to tell the House to vote for a clean increase in the minimum wage - here's why you should.

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on increasing the minimum wage on Wednesday, January 10 - probably in the early afternoon. If you haven't called your Rep. yet, the toll-free number will still be available on the 10th - call in the morning to be sure you'll reach him or her before the vote. Here's why you should call: this is our first opportunity to demonstrate to the new Congress that a strong, committed legion of advocates expects members of Congress to stand up for low-income people. A strong win in the House on Wednesday is a crucial step to helping millions of workers and their families achieve a wage that will lift them out of poverty.

This is no time for silence! Call your Representative:

Step 1: Call 1-800-459-1887, toll-free, to be connected to the U.S. Capitol Switchboard.

Step 2: Ask to be connected to your Representative's office. (If you're not sure of his or her name, click here: http://www.house.gov/writerep/)

Step 3: Tell the staffer who answers the phone:

Hi, my name is _______________ and I'm a constituent. Please tell Rep. _______ to vote for H.R. 2, the bill to increase the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years. Please pass a clean bill, with no tax breaks for business and no changes that hurt worker rights. Will Rep. ___ vote in favor of H.R. 2?

H.R. 2 will raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour by 2009. We need a strong showing in the House to build support for a clean minimum wage bill in the Senate. Help us generate thousands of calls in support.

A job should keep you out of poverty - not keep you in it.

The American Friends Service Committee (www.afsc.org/economic-justice/), the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign (www.letjusticeroll.org), and theCoalition on Human Needs (www.chn.org) urge all in their networks to call Congress and to forward this alert. The toll-free number is provided by AFSC, a Quaker organization which welcomes groups to use the number to support work for fair wages and a moral budget and without linking it to language or websites supporting partisan purposes.


"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

THANKS!

=======================
Please forward this e-mail!

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for CHN emails at http://www.chn.org/signUp.jsp.

Please call your Rep @ 1-800-459-1887 now!

Thank you so much!
Sapphire Blue
Resident DU Fanatic Beggar

:hug: :loveya: :grouphug: :loveya: :hug:

[WiseButAngrySara]

1. knr! ....n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

10. Thanks, WiseButAngrySara :)

:hug:

[WiseButAngrySara]

21. TU for posting! ....n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

22. You're welcome!

:hi:

[Sapphire Blue]

2. Text of HR 2 - Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007

From THOMAS...

Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)

HR 2 IH1S

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 5, 2007

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California (for himself, Mr. HOYER, Mr. DONNELLY, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. ALTMIRE, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. ARCURI, Mr. BACA, Mr. BAIRD, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. BEAN, Mr. BECERRA, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. BERRY, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. BRALEY of Iowa, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. CARNAHAN, Mr. CARNEY, Ms. CASTOR, Mr. CHANDLER, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. CLAY, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. COHEN, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. COOPER, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. DAVIS of Alabama, Mr. DEFAZIO, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. DELAHUNT, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. DICKS, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. ELLSWORTH, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. ENGEL, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. FARR, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. FILNER, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Ms. GIFFORDS, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. GORDON of Tennessee, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. HALL of New York, Mr. HARE, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. HERSETH, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. HILL, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. HINOJOSA, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. HODES, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. HOLT, Mr. HONDA, Ms. HOOLEY, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. KAGEN, Mr. KANJORSKI, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KILDEE, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. KIND, Mr. KLEIN of Florida, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. LATOURETTE, Ms. LEE, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. LOEBSACK, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. MAHONEY of Florida, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Mr. MICHAUD, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. MITCHELL, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut, Mr. CHRISTOPHER MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Mr. NADLER, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. NORTON, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. OBEY, Mr. OLVER, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. REYES, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. ROSS, Mr. ROTHMAN, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Mr. RUSH, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. SALAZAR, Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. PORTER, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. SHULER, Mr. SIRES, Mr. SKELTON, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. SNYDER, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. SPACE, Mr. SPRATT, Mr. STARK, Mr. STUPAK, Ms. SUTTON, Mrs. TAUSCHER, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr. TIERNEY, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. VELAZQUEZ, Mr. WALSH of New York, Mr. WALZ of Minnesota, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. WATERS, Ms. WATSON, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. WEINER, Mr. WELCH of Vermont, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. WILSON of Ohio, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. WU, Mr. WYNN, and Mr. YARMUTH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A BILL

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007'.

SEC. 2. MINIMUM WAGE.

(a) In General- Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows:

`(1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than--

`(A) $5.85 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after the date of enactment of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007;

`(B) $6.55 an hour, beginning 12 months after that 60th day; and

`(C) $7.25 an hour, beginning 24 months after that 60th day;'.

(b) Effective Date- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. APPLICABILITY OF MINIMUM WAGE TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.

(a) In General- Section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206) shall apply to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(b) Transition- Notwithstanding subsection (a), the minimum wage applicable to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) shall be--

(1) $3.55 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after the date of enactment of this Act; and

(2) increased by $0.50 an hour (or such lesser amount as may be necessary to equal the minimum wage under section 6(a)(1) of such Act), beginning 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act and every 6 months thereafter until the minimum wage applicable to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under this subsection is equal to the minimum wage set forth in such section.

[bobbolink]

95. Can I complain---this is such a little raise... sigh...

Yeah, I know... better than nothing, but geeeeezzz.....

A few cents an hour raise after 10 years... grrr...

Hey, why don't we campaign for everyone who is sraising a family on minimum rage for a Congressional office? :evilgrin:

[Sapphire Blue]

96. Indeed, it is, and the Dems made that point on the House floor today.

We could campaign for that ... or campagn for Fed min wage for Congress... at least the repub Congressmembers :evilgrin:

[bobbolink]

97. Fed minimum wage for congress--I Like It!

:evilgrin:

You think like I do...hehehehe

So, how is the vote going? I just got off the road... Are they tallying yet?

[Solly Mack]

3. recommended

as always, Sapphire Blue :yourock:

[Sapphire Blue]

9. Thanks, Solly Mack :)

:hug:

[pwb]

4. blue states already have higher minimum wages .

why should blue america fight for wages in red america? red states are the ones with the lowest minimum wage and they do not care about the blue states. red states deserve what they have, they voted for it.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Sydnie]

7. How GOP of you ....

"I've got mine ... fuck them if they can't get theirs".

Wow, just wow. :eyes:

[pwb]

12. wow yourselves. red america is the enemy,

of humankind. red states could raise their minimum wage but they don't. is that blue americas fault.

[Catherine Vincent]

14. There are blue people in these red states. It's not their fault.

n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

16. Hatred & bigotry are the enemy. You are exhibiting both.

Now, please take it elsewhere. Thanks

[Sydnie]

19. blivet** has succeeded completely now

in turning some of us against each other, hasn't he?

I'm not ready to throw any Americans away no matter what their geography might be. We need to lead them to the light, not damn them to the darkness of their poor choices.

I'm not looking to be a member of an economic civil war on regular working people.

Obviously, your mileage must vary. :(

edit - typo

[Pacifist Patriot]

28. I find it incredibly hard to believe that....

anyone who would declare other Americans "the enemy" in such a glib way shares my progressive and democratic values. I have never once said this in all the time I've been on DU, but are you sure you're in the right place?

Fine, you don't want a Federal Minimum Wage increase. I've heard arguments against it. I don't agree with them, but I respect their dissenting opinion because they have counter-arguments they have considered seriously. I cannot respect, however, someone who declares their fellow Americans, and fellow human beings, to be "the enemy."

You do realize your position doesn't just hurt the Reds in the Red States but the Blues who live there too? Or is that the not so subtle point?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

49. Rahm Emmanuel?

Is that you?

[Sapphire Blue]

15. Minimum Wage Laws in the States - January 1, 2007

Minimum Wage Laws in the States - January 1, 2007: http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm

Every human being on this planet deserves fair compensation for their labor. Period. Got it?

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Sapphire Blue]

20. The Democratic Congress calls it the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007.

That's what I'll call it, thank you.

If you don't support our Democratic Congress in this, perhaps you should start another thread?

[Pacifist Patriot]

26. Excuse me, but what about the very blue of us who live...

in red states? Are we to be penalized because our neighbors are idiots? Sorry, but your attitude hardly seems democratic. I can understand having a difference of opinion over raising the minimum wage, but your reason for not doing so is just startling in its dismissal.

[WiseButAngrySara]

5. .

[Sydnie]

8. Kicked and rec'd dear Sapphire Blue.

Did my calls two days ago. Let's hope they rock and roll this legislation!

[Sapphire Blue]

11. Thank you, Sydnie :)

:hug: Thanks for calling!

[terip64]

13. I called Walberg's office in MI and he is voting no. I told them I would spread the word! Loser.

[Sapphire Blue]

18. *** For those reading this thread, see terip64's post & call Walberg's office in MI ***

:hug: Thank you for calling & for the info, terip64!

[Pacifist Patriot]

23. I called and spoke to Rep. Dave Weldon's office (FL-15)

After I registered my plea for support, I asked the staffer if the Rep. Pinhead (not in those words of course) planned to vote in favor of HR 2. She said, "I'll have to check, but I doubt it." I responded, "Oh you're right. That's true. I can't imagine Rep. Weldon doing anything to actually help his constituents or vote in favor of humane measures for his fellow human beings either." Now before I get jumped on, I said it very sweetly and thanked her for her time.

[Sapphire Blue]

25. *** DUers, please see Pacifist Patriot's post & call Rep Weldon! ***

:hug: Pacifist Patriot, thank you for calling!

[Pacifist Patriot]

29. My pleasure. I enjoy being the thorn in my Republican Reps backside.

Sadly, every constituent in his district could call in support of this bill and he'd still vote against it. His concern for human beings begins at conception and ends at birth.

[Sapphire Blue]

30. Time for a LTTE?

[Sapphire Blue]

24. kick. Please call your Rep @ 1-800-459-1887

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

27. *** House is in session, C-SPAN 1; I hope everyone is watching! ***

1 minute comments now... some really good ones on the minimum wage!

[Sapphire Blue]

31. kick. Please call your Rep @ 1-800-459-1887

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

32. kick; Please call your Rep @ 1-800-459-1887.

:kick:

[helderheid]

33. GLADLY kicked and recommended!!

[Sapphire Blue]

36. Thank you, helderheid!

:hug:

[nam78_two]

34. K&R-because this matters.nt

[Sapphire Blue]

37. Thank you; YES, it matters!

:hug:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

35. It's almost but not quite too late folks.

If you haven't yet, please call.

[Sapphire Blue]

38. Yes, PLEASE call - 1-800-459-1887

:hi:

[porphyrian]

39. Kick for the fanatic beggar. - n/t

;)

[Sapphire Blue]

42. Thank you, porphyrian ;)

:hi: :hug:

[porphyrian]

53. Aw, you know it's no big deal...

;)

[Sapphire Blue]

56. It IS a very big deal to those making minimum wage! I appreciate your help!

:hug:

[porphyrian]

58. Well, I'm happy to give it, what little help it is. - n/t

[Nutmegger]

40. This needs more

:kick: and :thumbsup:!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

43. Thanks, Nutmegger!

:hug:

[blogslut]

41. Done

He won't listen (Thornberry R-TX) but I called anyway.

[Sapphire Blue]

44. Thank you for calling, blogslut!

:hug:

[AtomicKitten]

45. kicked .....

[Sapphire Blue]

46. Thanks, AtomicKitten!

:hug:

[patrice]

47. 1/10/07 - Done again.

I will fax him too in a short while.

[Sapphire Blue]

48. Thank you again, patrice!

:hug:

[goclark]

50. Called, K'd and R'd

I'll continue calling.

All the lines are ringing busy.

I put my phone in redial mode.

[Sapphire Blue]

51. Thanks so much, goclark!

:hug:

[mdmc]

52. kick

to the head

[goclark]

60. I'm still calling and the lines stay busy

Suppose that is a good thing.

[EFerrari]

54. K &R

:kick:

[goclark]

55. Keep kicked and call again and again nt

[Sapphire Blue]

57. Thank you, sfexpat2000!

:hug:

[EFerrari]

85. I'm back and see they haven't voted yet.

:hi:

[Sapphire Blue]

86. Back from recess, voting soon.

:hi:

[EFerrari]

92. Here's hoping.

:hi:

[Sapphire Blue]

94. Voting after this last bs repub maneuver.

:hi:

Oh, I so love our Dems!!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Nutmegger]

59. Come on everybody!

:kick: and :thumbsup:!!!!!!

[phylny]

61. Done, John Hall (D-NY) is a co-sponsor also :) n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

62. Thank you, phylny! And a Thank You to Rep Hall!

:hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

63. ...

:kick:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

64. .

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

67. ..

:hi: :hug:

[Booster]

65. We really need to win this one, gang. K&R

[Sapphire Blue]

68. Thanks, spenbax! Yes, we do!

:hug:

[DearAbby]

66. Kicking this

:hi:

[Sapphire Blue]

69. Thanks, DearAbby!

:hi: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

70. House is still debating... please keep calling - 1-800-459-1887

:kick:

[annabanana]

71. When is the vote scheduled?. . . .n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

72. After the 3-hour debate.

Edited to add:

Excerpt from an email from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer...

H.R. 2 - Increasing the Minimum Wage (Rep. George Miller - Education and Labor) (Three Hours of Debate)

Anticipated Votes:

Republican Motion to Recommit – VOTE NO

Passage of H.R. 2 – VOTE YES

[DearAbby]

73. 1-800-459-1887

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

74. I am sooo loving Rep Lewis : "...a matter of human dignity"

:loveya:

[OhioChick]

75. Kick

For an important call to make!

1-800-459-1887

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

76. Thanks, OhioChick!

:hi: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

77. House in recess until 3:45 Eastern Time; PLEASE keep calling! 1-800-459-1887

Thank you!!!

[DearAbby]

78. KICK

[poofer]

79. did it

Minnesota here and got icky Coleman's office but I made my point clear!

[Sapphire Blue]

81. Thank you for calling, poofer!

:hug:

[Irishonly]

80. Done early this morning

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

82. Thanks for calling, Irishonly!

:hi: :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

83. ...

:kick:

[EFerrari]

84. kick

[Bluebear]

87. Just phoned Carol Shea-Porter (NH) nt

[hamerfan]

88. Kicking because it's important!

:kick: :hug:
And hoping it's not too late. Thanks to all who have taken the time to do this, and big thanks to Sapphire Blue for making it so easy for the rest of us to take action!
dumpbush

[Czolgosz]

89. K & R - anyone have a list of waivering Democrats to call? Waivering Repubs?

[Sapphire Blue]

90. Call every last one of them!

Edited to add: :hug: Thank you for the K&R!

[calimary]

91. Kicked, and called. And recommended.

I always have a soft spot for your begging.

[Sapphire Blue]

93. Thank you so much, my dear calimary :D

:hi: :hug:

(I posted elsewhere that I wouldn't post another begging thread... until the Senate Minimum Wage Bil comes up ;) )

[MrSlayer]

98. K&R. Make the call people, it's FREE!!

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

100. Thanks, MrSlayer!

:hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

99. House Majority Leader Hoyer's statement...

Via email...

For Immediate Release
January 10, 2007
Contact: Stacey Farnen Bernards
202-225-3130

Hoyer: We Must Get Minimum Wage Increase to the President's Desk Without Delay


WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke this afternoon at a press conference on H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

"Today, the United States House of Representatives, the People's House, demonstrated that we are committed to addressing the needs of all of our people - including those who struggle to make ends meet on the federal minimum wage.

"Today, the House will pass legislation, on a bipartisan basis, to increase the federal minimum wage by $2.10 per hour over the next three years.

"The minimum wage, of course, has not been increased since September 1, 1997, making this House action long overdue.

"Increasing the minimum wage is simply a matter of doing what's right, just and fair. Eighty-nine percent of the American people support such an increase, according to a Newsweek poll. President Bush has expressed his support. And a bipartisan majority of the Senate passed a minimum wage increase in June 2006.

"Now, we urge our colleagues in the Senate to hold a clean up-or-down vote on this issue as soon as possible.

"In the United States of America, the richest nation on earth, workers should not be relegated to poverty if they work hard and play by the rules.

"On Monday, we commemorate the life of a great American - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And Dr. King once said: 'Equality means dignity. And dignity demands a job and a paycheck that lasts through the week.'

"Today, we heed those words. We must not ignore our citizens who are struggling. We must get this legislation to the President's desk without delay."

[Bluebear]

101. VICTORY!

[Skidmore]

102. Pelosi gavelled that one in and it was by a solid majority.

300+ to 150something. We need to get the final stats. Sorry, I'm trying to read about the classification of torts and listen at the same time. This term's gonna be tough.

[EFerrari]

106. Omigod. Only reading this now.

:cry:

:hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

103. Pelosi: ‘Increasing the Minimum Wage Is a Victory for America’s Families’

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3086160

:grouphug:

[bliss_eternal]

104. K & R...!

:hug::hi:

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

105. Thank you, bliss_eternal

:hi: :hug: Here's the next thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3086160